ATASK's Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) has been engaged in many activities this year. Last month, YEP youth attended the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival. According to their website, the festival is for "the preservation, protection and sharing of the cultural heritages of the Southeast Asian Americans of Greater Lowell, Massachusetts area". Our YEP youth came up with a new innovative way to do tabling and offered amazing nail art with messages like 'Peace', 'Love Is Not Abuse', and '100% DV Free'.

YEP Zine

Congratulations to the eight YEP participants who have completed the summer program! Their final project was a zine titled Voices of the Unheard including poems, short stories and public service announcements to raise awareness about dating violence. Part of the pieces was performed in the Boston Progress Arts Collective (BPAC) by the YEP summer 2010 group. Voice of the Unheard started as an idea for young people to have a creative and expressive voice against violence, oppression, and as an outlet for their everyday lives.

Back-to-school

Mintz Levin once again donated back to school items for our children. We received many backpacks for children whose families have been affected by violence so that they can start their academic year with brand new items. Mintz Levin's generosity is crucial to continue our services. It also means so much to these families. One of the children expressed her happiness and gratitude for receiving the new bag by drawing a thank you picture. She says, "thank you for my bag!"

Silk Road 2011

Our primary annual benefit "Silk Road Gala 2011" is on the way. The event will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 7:00PM to 10:00PM on the 2nd floor of the Sheraton Boston Hotel at 39 Dalton Street, Boston. Be part of this amazing night by purchasing a ticket for $200 per person or be a sponsor. Visit atask.org to purchase tickets or for more information!

Client Success Story

Ambreen*, demure and soft-spoken woman in her mid fifties, is an immigrant from Bangladesh. She was married to her first cousin at 19 years old. Most of her life was spent controlled by her now ex-husband, who along with his mother and sister abused her. She worked like a maid in her own home, stripped of the respect and the dignity that she should have had as a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. Now she lives near Boston with one of her sons. After living in Bangladesh where she raised her two sons until their teenage years, she moved to the United States a little over a decade ago. With her sons now grown-up and finally separated from her abusive husband, she was ready to take a life-changing step.

May 2010 was a turning point for Ambreen when she met ATASK's advocate for the first time. Initially our advocate helped her familiarize with the MBTA system and get her comfortable traveling on her own. Something that she had never done before. The next step was to enroll her in the ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) class. Her long-term goal was to be licensed to run her own day care. In October 2010, she was awarded a grant that enabled her to pay fees towards taking the necessary training to become a provider through the Department of Early Education and Care.

A year later, Ambreen is now successfully employed as an Assistant Day-Care provider, navigates the MBTA with the ease of a pro, communicates gracefully in English, and hopes to start her own day care early next year. We are proud of Ambreen who can finally say "I am now working and finally have a voice!"

*Name has been changed to protect the client's identity.

In the Community

Save the Date

Thursday, September 22nd

Location: Jimmy Choo, 100 Huntington Avenue, Copley Place, Boston

Time:6 PM ~

Join ATASK, Janet Wu of 7 News and Jennie Suk of Harvard Law School for Jimmy Choo's shopping benefit for ATASK. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kozue Sawame at 617-338-2350 x232.

Saturday,October 22nd

Location: Sheraton Boston Hotel

Be part of this year's Silk Road Gala by purchasing a ticket for $200 per person or be a sponsor. Visit atask.org to purchase tickets or for more information!

Teen Dating Violence Workshops

The Education team is beginning to schedule workshops for schools and youth groups for the fall semester. If interested in receiving Teen Dating Violence prevention workshops, please contact Danny Hoor 617-338-2350 x229.

Shelter Updates

Shelter Requests:

Our shelter is currently in need of new blankets/comforters, towels, and toiletries. Please contact Uyen Tran. Or to make a donation, please visit atask.org and indicate the purpose of your donation in the comments box. Thank you!

Correction

The August edition of our newsletter listed Dr. Manju Sheth's name incorrectly. We apologize for the mistake.